GM & Performance
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/19/2...ring/#comments
When General Motors made the announcement yesterday that it was shutting down it High Performance Vehicle Operations, a few questions surfaced about what would happen to the models that haven't hit dealers but are still in the pipeline. While the answers seemed obvious to us (development's done so they're still on the way), GM spokesman Vince Muniga sought to address the concerns of enthusiasts.
Muniga told InsideLine that the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is coming out and "is not threatened at all." Furthermore, and just as obvious, the Cadillac CTS-V, Cobalt SS and HHR SS will soldier on until their production run ends, and vehicles like the Camaro SS, Corvette ZR1 and Z06 – all of which were developed as regular production models, not through HPVO – are safe.
The 60 or so engineers behind the HPVO team are still receiving paychecks with Wagoner's signature and have begun working on everything from passenger vehicles to crossovers. According to Muniga, "We're not going to let those talents go to waste."
Muniga told InsideLine that the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS is coming out and "is not threatened at all." Furthermore, and just as obvious, the Cadillac CTS-V, Cobalt SS and HHR SS will soldier on until their production run ends, and vehicles like the Camaro SS, Corvette ZR1 and Z06 – all of which were developed as regular production models, not through HPVO – are safe.
The 60 or so engineers behind the HPVO team are still receiving paychecks with Wagoner's signature and have begun working on everything from passenger vehicles to crossovers. According to Muniga, "We're not going to let those talents go to waste."
This will NOT effect any of the performance cars currently being built, not at all, not one little bit. It just means that anything that was currently under developement for production (the Z28 would be the only one I can think of) is on hold and not to see the light of day until things improve at GM. When GM took peloisi money that was the end of anything cool until the money is paid back.
Just because GM "disbanded" the high performance group doesn't mean they can't be reassembled at the drop of a hat. I'm thinking more & more that GM & Chrysler are going to have to go through bankruptcy now that they've accepted the federal money. After that, it'll be a few years of chaos and as long as there's a market, there'll be someone building performance cars. Otherwise I'd look for all those engineers who were once part of the "high performance group" to band together and start up a new aftermarket company to supply engines, suspensions, etc.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
I think a lot of us knew this well before this statement was made by GM. You can't expect them to take billions of dollars from the government and take a gamble producing a $50,000 Camaro that may or may not sell.
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TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,799
Likes: 1
From: USS Enterprise 1701
I'm a GM guy..... but I'm wondering IF Ford can avoid taking any bailout money (Fed loans if you prefer) if they(Ford) won't emerge as the performance car leader.
The one advantage Ford will have is they won't have to appease the green administration in order to get bailouts/loans.
The one advantage Ford will have is they won't have to appease the green administration in order to get bailouts/loans.
I'm a GM guy..... but I'm wondering IF Ford can avoid taking any bailout money (Fed loans if you prefer) if they(Ford) won't emerge as the performance car leader.
The one advantage Ford will have is they won't have to appease the green administration in order to get bailouts/loans.
The one advantage Ford will have is they won't have to appease the green administration in order to get bailouts/loans.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
From: Toledo, Ohio
They will not put the new z28 into production. They might have already done the R&D to what might have been the Z28, but there's no way we will see one in production. GM claims to pay off all government loans by 2017, we will see then lol.
I think a lot of us knew this well before this statement was made by GM. You can't expect them to take billions of dollars from the government and take a gamble producing a $50,000 Camaro that may or may not sell.
I think a lot of us knew this well before this statement was made by GM. You can't expect them to take billions of dollars from the government and take a gamble producing a $50,000 Camaro that may or may not sell.
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
I'm a GM guy..... but I'm wondering IF Ford can avoid taking any bailout money (Fed loans if you prefer) if they(Ford) won't emerge as the performance car leader.
The one advantage Ford will have is they won't have to appease the green administration in order to get bailouts/loans.
The one advantage Ford will have is they won't have to appease the green administration in order to get bailouts/loans.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: In your sisters panties
Face it, the world is going in to a new direction, whether we like it or not. "The ones who hold the money, make the rules"; Congress, Politicians, w/e. Haven't you're parents ever told you "as long as I'm paying for it, you will do as i say."?
My point is, we have what we have and that will probably be it for a while. They'all always have the Vette, but i wouldn't be surprised if they threw on a "tree hugger" tax ON TOP of a outragous "gas guzzler" tax, and raised the price of registration to drive the car so high that a $50K turnes into a $75K car real fast.
It is easy to sit back and say "by "bla bla bla" you need to have a fleet average of 40mpg". They have no idea how much R&D that requires, not to mention $$$$$$$. That average doesn't leave much of a margin for big trucks or sports cars anymore.
Be happy with what you have; whether it be a Trans-Am, Camaro, CTS-V, GTO, or w/e. That might be all you get for a long time. After all, there isn't anything stopping you from moddin what you have and giving a BIG
to the D-Bag you pull up next to at a light in HIS brand new, 65mpg, gas/electric/hamster driven, "sunset mist" popuri scented exhaust, rainbow car! 
My point is, we have what we have and that will probably be it for a while. They'all always have the Vette, but i wouldn't be surprised if they threw on a "tree hugger" tax ON TOP of a outragous "gas guzzler" tax, and raised the price of registration to drive the car so high that a $50K turnes into a $75K car real fast.
It is easy to sit back and say "by "bla bla bla" you need to have a fleet average of 40mpg". They have no idea how much R&D that requires, not to mention $$$$$$$. That average doesn't leave much of a margin for big trucks or sports cars anymore.
Be happy with what you have; whether it be a Trans-Am, Camaro, CTS-V, GTO, or w/e. That might be all you get for a long time. After all, there isn't anything stopping you from moddin what you have and giving a BIG
to the D-Bag you pull up next to at a light in HIS brand new, 65mpg, gas/electric/hamster driven, "sunset mist" popuri scented exhaust, rainbow car! 
Reminds me of back in the 60s when Zora Arkus Duntov was shut down by the Government and then GM to disband the "Performance Corvettes" AKA Grand Sports. 7 of them still made it out the door. The government back then also forced the Big 3 to pull out of factory backed racing, which they did, for a couple of years....then they realized, "Win racing on Sunday, sell on Monday."
History is repeating itself, we all knew it would happen. If I get the chance, I will put a ZR1 next to my 99SS and see what value they will bring in 20 years. Of course, it could be nothing as everything will be hydrogen/hybrid powered and driven by computers.
History is repeating itself, we all knew it would happen. If I get the chance, I will put a ZR1 next to my 99SS and see what value they will bring in 20 years. Of course, it could be nothing as everything will be hydrogen/hybrid powered and driven by computers.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: In your sisters panties
yea, but in 20 yrs you can give ur son ur SS or your ZR1 (if you're lucky enough to afford one); he can then pull up to some D-Bag (w/ his g/f riding shotgun) at a stop light in his brand new, "65mpg, gas/electric/hamster driven, "sunset mist" popuri scented exhaust, rainbow car"; and shatter his "75% recycled plastic" windows! The ONLY hybrid i would ever own would be a Tahoe/Escalade one.
yea, but in 20 yrs you can give ur son ur SS or your ZR1 (if you're lucky enough to afford one); he can then pull up to some D-Bag (w/ his g/f riding shotgun) at a stop light in his brand new, "65mpg, gas/electric/hamster driven, "sunset mist" popuri scented exhaust, rainbow car"; and shatter his "75% recycled plastic" windows! The ONLY hybrid i would ever own would be a Tahoe/Escalade one.